Loyalists were accused today of throwing a device at the house of a Sinn Féin councillor in an overnight hoax bomb attack.
Lisburn councillor Mr Paul Butler said he believed loyalists were behind the incident at his home around 11 p.m. last night when a viscous object was thrown at the front door.
Army bomb disposal experts were called to the house to examine the object. Mr Butler, whose partner and three children were in the house at the time, said: "The people who threw this pulled up outside in a car.
"I certainly heard a car speed up and then a dull thud. "We had to evacuate the kids, my partner and I. "My view is that this is probably loyalists as I've had a number of threats over the past few months."
Councillor Butler said he had received a bullet in the post for Valentine's Day. Graffiti had also appeared in a loyalist area accusing him of causing trouble and his name had also been mentioned on a loyalist website.
"At this stage I really do believe this is the work of loyalists," he said. "I think I was targeted because of what I'm involved in as a Sinn Féin councillor and that is highlighting sectarian attacks and discrimination on Lisburn council."
PA